Minister calls for Olympic suspension of Jibril Rajoub
October 3, 2018 by J-Wire Newsdesk
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The day before the convening of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Buenos Aires, Israel’s Minster of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy Gilad Erdan sent a letter to Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, calling for the suspension of Jibril Rajoub from the IOC.
Rajoub currently serves as the head of the Palestinian Olympic Committee and the PA’s representative to the IOC.
In his letter, Erdan highlighted the fact that Rajoub was suspended and fined by FIFA for inciting violence against players and families of the Argentinian national football team. As a result of Rajoub’s incitement, a planned friendly match between Israel and Argentina was cancelled several months ago.
“Rajoub called on football fans to burn shirts and posters of Argentinian National Team player Lionel Messi, simply because Messi was in favor of playing in Israel,” Erdan wrote.
“There should be no room in respected international organizations for those who support terror, promote violence and employ threats and intimidation. Rajoub’s behavior stands in direct opposition to the values of the Olympics. It is essential that the IOC demonstrate that it is a professional body, guided only by the values of international sport, and not a political body which allows a person who supports violence and terror to be a member. We will continue to work with our friends in the international community to expose the truth about those who incite against Israel and promote anti-Israel boycotts.”